Andromeda - Love, especially with the celestial connection
Immanuela or Emmanuella - Would use the E. Not my style but alright.Lucasta - Too close to Luca for my liking but not terribleRavenna - Not my style. Think of raven, ravine, and that Snow White movie (but that will be forgotten soon)Ceridwen - Love the g(wen) names including this one but will be pronunciation issues. Maiwenn is my favorite.Raziela - Too many vowels together for my likingMariposa - NMSGwendolen - Boring for a Gwen nameGwyneira - Love. She could go by the common nickname Gwyn or the uncommon but beautiful Eira. On my list.Mirabel - Dislike "bel" names but this is okay. Love plain Mira, it is our girl frontrunner (again, celestial connection)
Ruhama/Ruchama - Too odd for my likingIsidora - Better than Isabel, like that "adore" is in it, but still NMSHypatia - Best namesake EVER. But sadly, I don't think it is usable. So unusual that I think people would have trouble remembering what the name is, other than that it is very different. How about Portia?Valeria - I think valerian root and sadly agree that it also sounds like a vaginal disease. Valerie?Rahela or Raquela - NMSMorwenna - NMS. How about Maren? Mirren? Marina?Felicia/Felicienne - a happy happy name
Ruxandra - NMS, sounds made up and trying too hardThomasin - Too close to Thomas for my liking

Yep. My DH likes that it can be Mari or Posy. And I like the transformational aspect of butterflies.

Originally Posted by ottilie

Ruxandra - Do you have Romanian blood? It feels very Romanian to me. But it's pretty, I just prefer Roxana or Alexandra.

I do have some, though I'm sort of an Eastern European smash-up. (Romanian, Ukrainian...etc.) I like that it can be Rue. But I do wonder if it's just making Roxana more complicated. I like Roxy but so many people have said it sounds "stripper-y" that it bummed me out. And I like the -xandra, but I cannot use Alexandra! I do think Alexandra is a wonderfully regal name, but it's out for me. I can't get any closer to Alexander than Iskender/Alastair.

Yeah, I have a thing for the obscure angel names, Hadriel, Cassiel, Raziel, Haniel, Zadkiel. They're not Biblical, they're more folklore/writings.

Originally Posted by hanniekitt

Elkanan/Elchanan - is this a form of Elkanah? I think I'd prefer just that

Yes, it's a form/variant. My granddad was a Hanan, which is a diminutive of it. I like Elkan & Elkanah but they seem further away. I've known an Elchanan before but I know it's sort of a clunky/obscure/ethnic name so I'm not sure. I keep trying to convince my husband it can at least be wedged in as a middle name.

Yes, it's the Hebrew. Instead of ne-heh-MY-ah, it's ne-CHEM-ya. (the ch like in loch, not like in choo-choo train...) 3 syllables, not 4. I sorta really love it. I don't know if being shorter makes it any easier though.

Originally Posted by hanniekitt

Naphtali - I've never heard if anyone using this before, but I quite like it

It's a family name for me. I've got some rather uncommon ones, lol! My DH prefers Naphtali to Elchanan. Though perhaps some would feel that's not much of a choice, haha.

I'm going to go through the suggested new names now. Thank you again, everyone!

GirlsAndromeda - LOVE. Ann or Andie are pretty wearable nicknames, too.
Immanuela or Emmanuella - Not a fan of, really. Imma/Emma or Ella would be wearable, more youthful and fun nicks though.Lucasta - Not very playful or fun at all. I like Lu though.Ravenna - I honestly thought it was just a play on Raven. I think its pretty and Ray or Enna are possible nicks.Ceridwen - I have no idea how to pronounce this, still.Raziela - Same as Lucasta, except I don't know any possible nicknames.Mariposa - Interesting and kind of bouncy. I like the nickname Posy; I think that's the best part.Gwendolen - Pretty and sophisticated. Gwen isn't my favorite nickname though.Gwyneira - More uncommon version of Gwendolen, and I like the nickname Neira more than Gwen.Mirabel - I'm really tired of -bel names.
Ruhama/Ruchama - Not very playful or fun.Isidora - I haaate Dora.Hypatia - Same as Ruhama.Valeria - Val isn't a very cute nickname and Valeria always sounded like a disease to me.Rahela or Raquela - Same as Ruhama.Morwenna - Pretty and interesting. Not sure about any nicknames.Felicia/Felicienne - I've never liked Felicia, and actually prefer Felixa.
Ruxandra - I don't like -andra names. Rux is a cool start though.Thomasin - Always loved this name. Its pretty sounding with a pretty meaning. The nickname possibility is the only thing I don't like.

BoysHawthorn - I don't think it needs the "E" at the end. Its a neat name either way, but idk about nicknames.Lysander - I'm not a fan of -sander.Gideon - Neat name that always made me think of a knight.Peregrine - Very interesting but I'm not a fan.Orion - Very cool and powerful, Ori, Ri, or Rion are nicknames. It also makes me think of Titus.
Iskender - No..Thaddeus - Never liked this name.Alasdair/Alastair - Never liked this name. I think it lacks personality.Sebastian - Love this name. Strong and adventurous!Emmanuel/Immanuel - See ImmanuellaFinnian - I love Finn names!
Elkanan/Elchanan - NooooNaphtali - I have... no idea how to say this. Reminds me of Nathaniel though.Demetrius - N0000000Hadriel - Interesting? Hadley could be a nickname.
Raziel - Raz would be a cool nick.
Nehemya - sounds more feminine to me.Zebulon - Sounds like an evil intergalactic dictator.